What’s Your Teenager Doing This Summer?

Gosh. Where did the school year go? Summer is approaching which means teenagers must figure out how they are going to fill their summer months.
If you’re looking for summer programs for your teenagers, I’d suggest heading over the Enrichment Alley.  This is a great website that contains a directory of summer enrichment experiences around the world.

Low-Cost Summer Enrichment Experiences

Unfortunately, a lot of summer enrichment programs for teenagers are expensive, but there are some exceptions. I pulled this excerpt off Enrichment Alley’s website to give you some ideas:
Money may be tight, but it’s not necessary to give up on finding a cost-effective way to spend a productive summer. Free and low cost summer enrichment programs are out there—you just need to look a bit harder to find them or think outside the box about what a makes a productive summer.
Begin by considering the student’s interests. Our nation’s need for engineers and scientists has led to the creation of numerous free and/or low cost programs in these areas. Cal Tech’s Young Engineering and Science Scholars program, the MITE program at the University of Texas, the ASM Materials Camp, the Bridge Program in Math & Science at Sewanee, and the Summer Institute for Mathematics at the University of Washington are all provided free of charge to qualified students.
Interested in the environment? Check out the American Hiking Society’s Volunteer Vacations or the Student Conservation Corps programs. Non-science types might look to the Carleton Liberal Arts Experience for a low-cost enrichment program. Telluride Association offers free residential programs for students with outstanding qualifications, while individual states often sponsor Governor’s programs or honors institutes.
Although many summer programs held on college campuses come with higher price tags, keep in mind that programs often provide need-based financial aid. Dual enrollment classes taken at the nearest community college are often provided free to high school students.

Finding Opportunities in Your Community

Many hospitals have outreach programs designed to interest students in the health sciences—check with your local institution for opportunities. Some state attorney’s offices allow student interns to shadow their lawyers. Contact your city government—some departments even offer paid internships to high school students.
Also look at local businesses. Aspiring veterinarians can volunteer at their local vet’s office or work at an animal shelter or rescue organization. Budding artists might help out at an art school program, while future scientists can volunteer to work as research assistants for professors. Use your imagination and work your (or your parents’) network of contacts.
Lynn O’Shaughnessy is the author of The College Solution and she also writes a college blog for CBS MoneyWatch. Follow her on Twitter.